Machine for treating nylon stockings



Dec. 27, 1949 M. J. HELIOT MACHINE FOR TREATING NYLON STOCKINGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1947 Dec. 27, 1949 HELIOT 2,492,285

MACHINE FOR TREATING NYLON STOCKINGS Filed April 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 27, 1949 OFFICE MACHINE FOR TREATING NYLON STOCKINGS Maurice Joseph Hliot, Troyes, France Application April 15. 1947, Serial No. 741,640 In France July 29, 1946 14 Claims.

This invention has for its object a machine for treating nylon stockings on forming blocks inside an autoclave.

It is a well-known fact that nylon stockings should be prepared inside an autoclave and to this end treating machines have been used that include an autoclave for containing the stockings previously fitted over forming blocks.

In known machines, the autoclave should remain open during the time required for the removal of the forming blocks carrying the treated stockings and for introducin other forms carrying other stockings to be treated. The result of this manner of operating did not only lead to long stoppages during operation but also to drawbacks for the operators who had to remove the treated stockings from the inside of the autoclave and to introduce into the latter the stockings to be treated under pressure.

The invention has for its object the execution of a high efficiency machine for finishing nylon stockings, i. e., a machine for which the stoppages required for removing from the autoclave the forming blocks carrying the treated stockings and for the introduction into said autoclave of further forming blocks with the stockings to be treated, are reduced to a minimum.

A further object of the invention consists in the provision of a machine allowing the handling of the stockings whether already handled or to be handled subsequently to be performed entirely in the open with reference to the autoclave.

A further object of the invention is the execution of an arrangement for the carrying of the forming blocks, that allows a considerable increase in the number of blocks adapted to be introduced at one time into the machine and a reduction to a minimum of the tim required for the handlin of said blocks without this resulting in trouble of any description for the execution of the desired operations, setting of the stockings to be treated on the blocks and the removal of the treated stockings.

The above objects and others will appear more clearly from the following description and the accompanying drawings illustrating diagrammatically and merely by way of example a form of execution of the machine and carrier of the primary blocks according to the invention.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational partly sectional view of the machine, the two parts of the autoclave being shown spaced from each other.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rotary plate forming a part of the machine.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the lower part of the machine, the two parts of the autoclave being shown in their assembled position.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a forming block support for use with this machine.

Fig. 5 is a plan view to that of Fig, 4, the forming blocks being fitted with their stockings and ready for treatment.

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 5, one of the forming blocks being in a position for the introduction or removal of the stocking to be treated or already treated as the case may be.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 the chief components of the machine are constituted by a rotary plate I and by an autoclave made of two parts, namely a body or bell-shaped part 2 including a welded dome and a bottom 3.

The rotary plate I that in the illustrated modification of the invention has an outline shaped as an equilateral triangle with rounded corners includes three zones defined by three circles C, C and C" the diameter of which is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the body 2. Each of these three zones is adapted to receive the stockings to be treated, either on individual and independent forming blocks or preferably on forming blocks rigidly connected with a common carrier, as hereinafter described.

The plate I is provided with a central opening 4 allowing it to be rotated about a stationary tubular upright 5 forming part of the frame of the machine. Said plate rests ,freely on a socket 6 also mounted so as to be capable of rotation relative to upright '5 and provided at its lower end with a gear 8 adapted to be rotated by any suitable means.

Although the plate I rests freely on the socket 6 it is capable of taking part in the rotation of the latter through the cooperation of studs 9 provided in the upper surface of said socket and engaging corresponding openings In provided in the plate I.

The body 2 which should be vertically movable above the plate I is mounted at the upper end of a rod H rigidly connected with a piston I2 housed inside the tubular upright 5. In the i1- lustrated modification of the invention the piston I 2 is controlled hydraulically and the inlet and outlet of the control fluid into said upright are obtained through the pipes l3 and [4. As shown, the body 2 is guided in its displacements by means of rollers l5 adapted to move over a suitable raceway such as IE.

At its lower end, the body 2 of the autoclave is provided with four hooks H. Th two hooks 3 i! which are the nearest the upright 5 are adapted to pass through slots is provided in the plate 1 whereas the two other hooks pass outside the periphery of the plate The body is completed by a fluid-tight packing l9 located on the periphery of its lower surface.

The bottom 3 that should be vertically movable underneath the plate I is carried by the upper surface of a piston adapted to move inside a cylinder 2 I and controlled preferably through hydraulic means. Said bottom is provided with a passageway 22 for any liquid or gas required for the treatment of the stockings in the autoclave.

Over the cylinder 2! is arranged a rotary ring provided with four hooks 23 corresponding as to shape and size with the hooks ll provided on the body 2. Furthermore a fluid-tight packing ii is provided throughout the upper periphery 'of the bottom 3.

The control of the rotary plate I is executed in a ina'nner such that said plate may be held fast with reference to the two part autoclave in three positions for each of which one of the zones defined on said plate is correctly positioned in a manner such that the stockings on the forming blocks carried by the plate may be treated inside "the autoclave.

'upposing the autoclave is open as shown in Fig. '1 and the zone C has been brought into its treating position, the working or the machine is'asiollows:

H "The body 2 is lowered and at the same time "the bottom 3' is raised. When these two parts "of the autoclave are at the end of their stroke, th'epacking IQ of the body 2 is strongly pressed against the upper surface of the plate i while "t hepacking 24 on the bottom 3 is energetically pressed against the lower surface of said plate.

Th'elatter is thus strongly held between two parts of the autoclave that may be locked in this position by bringing through a rotation of the rotary ring the hooks 23 into engagement with the hooks '1! (Fig. 3).

The operation is now finished by introducing ihto'the body 2 the liquid, vapour or gas required for the treatment of the stockings and entering *the'bo'dy 2"through the channel 22 and the opening "25 provided in the plate i at the centre of "each of the zones C, C and C".

llVhile the stockings in the zone C are undergoing treatment, it is possible to introduce inside thiezbheC" the stockings which are to be treated after the opening of the autoclave and rotation of the :plate through 120. As to the stockings loca' ted in the zone C, they have been treated just before thosenow undergoing treatment in the zone andlthey are allowed to cool or they are removed from their forming blocks.

When the treating period of the stockings inside "the autoclave is at an end it is sufficient to'raise the -body 2, to lower the bottom 3 and to make the plate rotate in a manner such that the zone -C may take the place of the zone C with refer- -ence-to the autoclave whereby the stockingslocated-in said zone C" may in their turn be sub- "mittechto treatment as disclosed.

The consequence of this is that the machine stops '1justduring the time required for opening the autoclave, for rotating the plate l'through 120 and for closing said autoclave. The stoppage's 'in the useful operation of the machine are therefofe "very short and it is possible to state that the machine operates in practice in a conbe useful.

tinuous manner. Moreover no handling of the stockings or of the forming blocks is performed inside the autoclave as the removal of the stool ings from and the fitting thereof on the blocks are operated in succession in the positions C and C, unless it is preferred to provide these two operations both in the positions, the position C" serving only for the cooling of the stockings passing out of the autoclave.

In order to allow using to the utmost either of the zones C, C", C", the invention covers also an arrangement forming a block carrier as illustrated more particularly in Figs. 4 to 6.

This arrangement is constituted by a suitable number of metallic forming blocks 3 i, say twelve;

each of these supporting blocks is executed in the usual manner and is rigidly secured at its lower end through rivetting, welding or otherwise to a pivoting holder 32 provided at one side with hinge eyes 33 and 34. These hinge eyes 33 and 34 support a vertical spindle 35 rigid with two rings 36 and 3'! of which one is secured to a circular base plate 38 having a diameter smaller than that of the circles C, C, C" of the swivelling plate 1.

During operation, the forming blocks assume the position in which they are illustrated in Fig. 5, i. e. they are uniformly distributed around the central part of the plate 38 and said blocks may beheld in this position by suitable bolting means. On the-contrary when it is desired to remove the stockings from any of the blocks 31, the latter may be isolated from the others as apparent from Fig. 6.

The arrangement of Figs. 4 to B for a given number of blocks is less spacious than if individual blocks are used the number of which is equal to that provided in the case considered by the invention. It is therefore possible to treat in a single operation inside the machine autoclave a larger number of stockings than if it were desired to use for the latter independent individual blocks. Moreover the time required for introducing and removing the stockings on and off the forming blocks inside the treating apparatus is considerably reduced.

The machine and the arrangement carrying .the formingblo'cks as-described may form the object of numerousmodifications without widening the scope of the inventicnas defined in accomchanical, electrical or even hand-operated means.

Furthermore the shape of the plate may be different from that disclosed and include more than three zones in the case where this may appear to As for the holder arrangement forming the support of the blocks, obviously the number ofblocks carried 'by said holder may be dinerent from that disclosed; similarly also, it is possible to provide a holder of a different shape carrying for instance oblique axes. Lastly, .instead of using a b'ase plate of circular shape, said .plate may 'begiven anyother suitable shape in accordance .with the shape given tothe plate i of the machine.

What I claim is:

.1. .Amachine for the treatment of nylon and the like hosiery Qn-forming blocks comprising .an

autoclave consistinglofan upper and alowerpart,

=means to 'move saidrtwo parts vertically relative to each other, a plate carrying-rthe forming blocks in difierent angular locations being located for rotation through the horizontal plane in which the said two autoclave parts upon their vertical approach meet and a vertical plate-supporting shaft being rotatably located at the outside and near the autoclave whereby the forming blocks secured on said plate are moved into identical operating positions relative to the said autoclave parts.

2. A machine for the treatment of nylons and the like hosiery on forming blocks comprising an autoclave consisting of an upper and a lower part, means to move said two parts vertically relative to each other, a plate carrying the forming blocks in different angular locations being located for rotation through the horizontal plane in which the said two autoclave parts upon their vertical approach meet the said plate having a substantially polygonal shape the forming block being located in the corner portions of said plate and at an equal distance from its center point and a vertical plate-supporting shaft being rotatably located at the outside and near the autoclave whereby the forming blocks secured on said plate are moved into identical operating positions relative to said autoclave parts.

3. A machine for the treatment of nylons and the like hosiery on forming blocks comprising an autoclave consisting of an upper and a lower part, means to move said two parts vertically relative to each other, a plate carrying the forming blocks in different angular locations being located for rotation through the horizontal plane in which the said two autoclave parts upon their vertical mutual approach meet the said plate having a substantially triangular shape, the forming blocks being located in the corner portions of said triangle and at an equal distance from the center point of the plate and a vertical plate-supporting shaft being rotatably locked at the outside and near the autoclave whereby the forming blocks secured on said plate are moved into identical operating positions relative to the autoclave parts.

4. A machine for the treatment of nylon and the like hosiery on forming blocks comprising an autoclave including an upper and a lower part adapted to move vertically with reference to one another and a horizontal swivelling plate adapted to carry in different angular locations the forming blocks, a vertical shaft arranged on the outside and near the autoclave and on which the plate is coaxially fitted, a" socket coaxial with and fitted over said shaft, means for driving said socket through a predetermined angle, means whereby the socket carries the plate along with it for causing a predetermined sector of the plate to lie between the two parts of the autoclave together with the forming blocks and hosiery carried by said blocks.

5. A machine for the treatment of nylon and V the like hosiery on forming blocks comprising an autoclave including an upper and a lower part adapted to move vertically with reference to one another, a horizontal swivelling plate assuming a substantially polygonal shape adapted to carry the forming blocks in each of the locations defined by a circle, the centre of which lies on the bisecting line of an apex of said polygon, and located in the plane in which the two parts of the autoclave are adapted to meet when moving near one another, the vertical swivelling axis of said plate lying outside the autoclave for allowing the successive location in register with the autoclave parts of the blocks carried by the differ- 8 ent portions of the plate and means for admitting a hosiery treating fluid through the lower part of the autoclave and through the centre of each circle drawn on the plate.

6. A machine for the treatment of nylon and the like hosiery on forming blocks comprising an autoclave including an upper and a lower part adapted to move vertically with reference to one another, a horizontal swivelling plate adapted to carry indifferent angular locations the forming blocks and located in the plane in which the two parts of the autoclave are adapted to meet whenmoving near one another, the vertical swivelling axis of said plate lying outside the autoclave for allowing the successive location in register with the autoclave parts of the blocks carried by the different portions of the plate and means for controlling the relative vertical movements of the two parts of the autoclave and for holding said parts in fluid-tight relationship with the corresponding sides of the part of the plate registering with them.

'7. A machine for the treatment of nylon and the like hosiery on forming blocks comprising an autoclave including an upper and a lower part adapted to move vertically with reference to one another, a horizontal swiveling plate adapted to carry in different angular locations the forming blocks, a hollow shaft arranged on the outside and near the autoclave, and on which the plate is coaxially fitted, a socket co-axial with and fitted over said shaft, means for driving said socket through a predetermined angle, means whereby the socket carries the plate along with it for causing a predetermined sector of the plate to lie between the parts of the autoclave together with the forming block and hosiery system carried by said sector, a piston adapted to reciprocate inside said hollow shaft and rigid with the upper part of the autoclave and means for controlling through a fluid the movements of said piston inside the hollow shaft for urging the upper part of the autoclave into and out of fiuidtight relationship with the plate.

8. A machine for the treatment of nylon and the like hosiery on forming blocks comprising an autoclave including an upper and a lower part adapted to move vertically with reference to one another, a horizontal swivelling plate adapted to carry in different angular locations the forming blocks, a hollow shaft arranged on the outside and near the autoclave, and on which the plate is co-axially fitted, a socket co-axial with and fitted over said shaft, means for driving said socket through a predetermined angle, means whereby the socket carries the plate along with it for causing a predetermined sector of the plate to lie between the two parts of the autoclave together with the forming block and hosiery system carried by said sector, a piston adapted to reciprocate inside said hollow shaft and rigid with the upper part of the autoclave and means for controlling through fluid movements said piston inside the hollow shaft and urging thereby the upper part of the autoclave into fiuidtight relationship with the plate, rollers carried by the upper part of the autoclave and guideways arranged vertically along the tubular shaft for cooperation with said rollers.

9. A machine for the treatment of nylon and the like hosiery on forming blocks comprising an autoclave including a lower part and an upper part adapted to move towards and away from said lower part, hooks rigid with both parts and 7 adapted to htezeneeee er whine h wo. a ts th ir ed aeentneeret i e e yepne pl ad -re 1 ew ie f r were t m r' "Y' r t r r: e to one another, a horizontafplate' locate'githe plane in which thetw'o"parts"'of'the"ai1toc1ave an 'axis'lyinoiits'ia and nearthe autociave aim to carry in a plurality of afigulaflfshi'fted"positions the forming h1'0cks""for' th'e' hosiery, 'said plates having ara'dius extending'beyond the furthest point of the autoclave, nieans'for moving the upper part of .theaut0clave into'flui'dtight relation'shipwith the plate over a formingblock thereon, a piston rigidwith the lower part of the autoclave, a cylinder in which said piston is adapted to reciprocate, means for controlling the piston and means for pass atreet ne Qui into the lower part of the antoolaye and thrgng h the different operatiy po i ions pf t e plate 1.1. A machine for th t e tment i p l n im t e like h e 0 qrmine blo k 9. one a aut lave ne d ne ew we par were n neve part adapt to mo e ar s and away rii sa d ower Ba hqok i i W W adapted to interengage for holdin in their adjacent operative position, polygonal plate agl apte cllto swivel mung av I axislying near and onthe outside of said a toclave, and' adapted'to' parry in a"'pl angular positions forming ',blop 1 s"w1 pOrtiCm o a e e n n he ier it a registers with them at the timecbnsiqlerdQahd means" for anguially v h fii ll he 10W round the axis of the autoclaye.

' 12. A machine for the trea'trnent of nylon and an autoclave includin .anfnppe and 1 lower p r ad d t m re ve ticall w re plane in wwhichft l e two parts of the are aclaptedito meet whenimpv neinee to oneiariother ahorizontal platelocategi in he be be nets eete Q I9 f 29a it out ide" eed*"' ieeri h"a i fe to carry 113 a plniraiity of -angularly shifted sthe fgr ning blocks for enermsawysero p n'g 'a ra'qiiis ktendin'g'b' yondt he fur 't point of the" autoenr'e;nieens=rormoving the npfieFpart of thehutbbllvfihtd fiuidtight relationshipwith the plate over" a forming block thereon, a piston rigid with the lower part "of the aliitoclaveflneanls for'contro1ling"the piston, sbwnwamiy projecting hooks rigid with the upperpart'of'the autoclave; a'plurality of upwardly directed hooks adapted to engagethe first men'- tionedhooks' a ringcarrying said lowerhooks and'adapted to swivel'at the periphery of the cylinder enclosing-the piston controlling the lower pa'ft'of the autoclave, and means for preyenting any relative vertical movement between the cylinder and the hook carrying ring, the-inter ngagement of the two'series oi hgol i s plj" 1 for the fiu tem e uri i Qt the VW? p rt 9 th a t la e t eithe $191. 3 9? 9 9 2W 1. .1111 a m ehie as aimed la m 1, th p oyisien o e wpl i elit of rimm blocks; number of homers e. erfyi a'If m i fh imk base plates, a support/rig with andajxilally car'- r e or teen base pla i fis fi v a i 'd th v rl ge (grating lines tjcithe' ee respon m Sji'ib- 29 t i f s rin a difiei e p f in anglul' ly' sp'ae'ec l' relationship wan reference to thes i'vening plate ofthe 'achineand means l ck r 'e' h 'hqld r thetup d t n blof .he""ci'esired angular po'si on with reference 19 enring the different base plates in' angularly fitted over same, said plate being provided with 55 the like hosiery on forming blockspoznpri sing .2

spaceii relationship with'reference to the swivelilirig plate of the"machine, 'means for locking the holdersi'n the desired'afigular'position-with' refer- 'eiibeto theeorrespondingsupport and'me'ans for securing the lower annular "m'embersofthe supports to the corresponding base plates" co-axially therewith:

* MAURICE JOSEPH HELI REFERENCES CITED ,The following references are of record in the fi th "paten $IZATE$ eet 'emie Number Name Date 21244372 Nydegger J une'3 1941 2 2,2 9 ,040 Schwartz Oct.;13, 1942 

